North Baltimore Mennonite Church welcomes the full participation and membership of all gender identities and sexualities

Issues of gender and sexuality have always been part of the conversation here, with people, understandings, and policies ebbing and flowing over time. However, informal talks began in 2007, leading to a more intentional 18-month process from 2014-2015 (Bible studies, story-telling, listening, sharing convictions, etc), on the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ folks as members of NBMC. In August of 2015, the church voted to adopt the statement: “Membership and full participation at NBMC is open to all, regardless of sexual orientation.” This was later amended in 2017 to say: " North Baltimore Mennonite Church welcomes the full participation and membership of all gender identities and sexualities.”

Since that time, we have worked to incorporate this reality into our church’s life. We have actively affirmed queer members’ involvement in congregational leadership and staff roles. We are intentional with gender language in our teaching and scripture reading. We have adjusted our programming to not exclude people by gender or sexuality. We have had work groups to promote further LGBTQIA+ inclusion. We currently have designated a team to oversee and coordinate Queer life. I am proud of our ongoing commitment, knowing we could always do more and we could often do better.

We are sometimes asked why we need to be so diligent with this work. There are all sorts of people who need care, advocacy, and protection. Yes- and we do! But other people are not actively marginalized, persecuted, or labeled as sinful by the church to the same degree as our queer siblings. Therefore, silence on our part can be felt as complicity or furthering harm. We must actively work against the hate that our queer community endures. We affirm the image of God in the individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community.

God’s work in the world and in us in this regard must continue. We must regularly interrogate our own perspectives and actions, along with repairing damage that has been done by our congregation and countless other churches. We will continue to prod one another toward being a more loving and inclusive community. We will continue to serve as witnesses of what can be to the world around us. We are committed to continuing to grow in living out our resolution of being truly open to all.